Yesterday morning I woke up my daughter at dark-thirty and gently reminded her that she needed to get up and get dressed because the day of her long-awaited tonsillectomy had arrived. She responded by pulling her covers tightly over her head and saying “I changed my mind. I don’t want to do it.”

I chuckled, patted her legs, and said, “C’mon! You’re going to feel so much better without those things!”

“Okay, cool,” I said. “I’ll call the surgery center and tell them you’ve decided to keep your gnarly, infected tonsils and that you’ve grown attached to this overall feeling of malaise you’ve been experiencing since July. Sounds like the smart way to go!”

“Okay, FINE!” she said, surfacing from underneath the covers. And before I knew it, we were out the door and on our way to the surgery center.

On our way through our small town, we picked up my daughter’s best friend Meg, who my daughter had requested to come along on our journey because all my daughter’s angst relating to her upcoming tonsillectomy had two sources:

1. She has a pathological fear of needles
2. She was afraid she’d be awake during the operation and remember everything about it, despite all my assurances that anesthesia has amnesic qualities and that she wouldn’t remember a thing.

And she just wanted her friend along. She’s fourteen, after all.

On our drive over, Meg and I used all but twelve words in the English language to assure my daughter that a) the needle stick relating to the IV lasts only a millisecond and b) she would not be awake during the surgery.

“But I’m a very light sleeper,” she countered.

“Anesthesia doesn’t put you to sleep,” I said, because I’m an amateur physician and I know these things. “It renders you unconscious. It’s a completely different state than sleep.”

“What if it doesn’t work on me?” she asked. “What if it’s a bad batch of medicine? What if they don’t give me enough? I’m very tall. What if I’m awake but I can’t move and they don’t know I’m awake? I don’t want to hear any crunchy sounds. I’m nervous. Do I have to get an IV? Am I going to throw up?”

Fortunately, Meg had had an emergency appendectomy a couple of years ago, so she was able to respond with some degree of experience to her friend’s cries for help. Never mind that I had had a tonsillectomy during my teenage years, not to mention three vaginal births, one c-section, and a root canal! But I guess that wasn’t exactly the kind of perspective my daughter was seeking. She needed to know that her best friend on earth had been stuck with a needle and put under…then had come out the other side.

The drive to the surgery center was long, and by the time we pulled into the parking lot I was dying for some coffee. This town has a Starbucks, and I had prepped my psyche for two Venti lattes and probably a couple of those mini vanilla bean scones (recipe here–this is a full-service website!) Meg, too–we’d agreed that once we deposited my daughter into the hands of the surgical staff, we were going to make a beeline for Starbucks and load up on supplies. It was 6:50 am at this point, and I was starting to feel the pinch.

When we went through the check-in process, the nurse took us through all the forms and had me sign here and initial there as she explained what forms I was signing and initialing. When we got to the last form, she said, “Okay, and this one just says you agree not to leave the facility during the procedure.”

I looked at her and raised my eyebrow. “Yeah, but you don’t really mean that, right?”

She looked at me and raised her eyebrow. “Yes. It’s a policy. You are not allowed to leave the facility while the procedure is going on.” Then she punched me in the kidney. Not really, but that’s what it felt like.

I was sure there had to have been a mistake. “You know I’m not the patient, right?” I asked. I thought she must have been under the mistaken impression that I was the patient and she needed to remind me that I had to be there for the duration. Of course, why would she be advising me not to leave the facility during the procedure when I would be under general anesthesia at the time? Without coffee, this was all very confusing to me.

That’s when Meg stepped in, “Ree Ree, I think she’s saying that you can’t go to Starbucks because you’re the mother and you sorta…need to stay here.”

That’s when I was ready to pack it in and let my daughter live with her infected tonsils and the general feeling of malaise she’s experienced since July.

We then had a short time in the waiting room that involved my trying to figure out how to have Starbucks delivered to the surgery center and my daughter firing off a litany of last-minute concerns such as what happens if I dream during the operation and what if I bend my arm when the IV is in place and where does the blood go during the surgery and I’m going to go hide in the car.

Before we knew it, the three of us were in a small pre-op room, and my daughter was in a hospital gown and getting hooked up to an IV.

My daughter would like me to share this photo with you because she thinks it’s funny.

The administration of the IV pretty much went by without a hitch (but not without a funny face) but resulted in my daughter involuntarily shaking minutes later—one of those violent all-body shake situations. Fortunately, she found this funny and was laughing, but then that mixed with her terror over the imminent surgery and she was basically a shaking, laughing mess with wide eyes. And then they stuck a surgical cap on her head, which made the whole thing even more comical. Then the anesthesiologist came in and gave her a little pre-op sedative to make her relax and Meg and I watched as her wide eyes turned into chilled out eyes and her manic smile into a relaxed, contented one. Then she started touching her face like, “Whoa, that’s trippy. My face is so soft, bro.” And Meg and I cracked up. Repeatedly.

Then they wheeled her off to surgery and Meg and I returned to the waiting room and I asked her if it would be weird if I made a break for it and ran to Starbucks.

“Yes,” Meg replied. “That would be weird.”

I didn’t talk to Meg for ten whole minutes.

But shortly after that, we somehow started talking about gross things. I should tell you that Meg, my daughter, Meg’s mom Hyacinth, and I share a bond over our obsession with gross things like cysts. I won’t tell you that we have spent time together watching YouTube videos of such things, because that would be really weird and I don’t want to admit it out loud. But anyway, once Meg and I started talking cysts and boils we’ve known and loved throughout our lives, the time really flew by and the before we knew it the doctor (whose brother co-wrote the Anita Baker song “Giving You the Best That I Got”–please listen to it today) was calling for us to come back to the recovery room. But first he took us into a small meeting room to give us a recap on the surgery.

“She did great,” the sweet doctor said. “No problems at all.”

“Oh, good,” I exclaimed, relieved. Then I said, “Thank you, doctor, for giving us the best that you got.”

I didn’t really say that.

But then the doctor told me something that I’m afraid may have altered the course of my life.

“Her tonsils were the worst I’ve seen in…well, in awhile,” he reported.

Meg and I sat up taller in our chairs. “Really?” I said. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, they were just filled with nasty yellow gunk—and when I put a little pressure on them, they just squirted fluid everywhere.”

I looked at Meg.

Meg looked at me.

“So I’m really glad we got ‘em out of there,” the doctor continued. “She’s going to feel much better.”

Then he said something about it’ll be another ten minutes or so before we can see her, but all Meg and I heard was yellow gunk.

“Call your mom,” I said to Meg as soon as the doctor was out of the room, and I made her tell Hyacinth what the doctor said, word for word. Simultaneously, I called Marlboro Man and reported that our precious daughter had made it through the surgery just fine. I told him the tonsils were bad, but I stopped short of relaying the details of the yellow gunk. Things like that are meant to be sacred between Meg, Hyacinth, my daughter, and me. Oh, and you guys.

Within ten minutes, we were bedside in the recover room, rubbing my girl’s feet and helping her drink water. I got tears in my eyes because even though she’s fourteen, she looked all of five lying there on the table, woozy and weak. I thought about how brave she is, and how fragile, and how I’m only going to have her for less than four more years. And I don’t want her fwoat to hurt. Poor wittle baby.

The recovery nurse took me through all the post-op instructions and had me sign some forms, then as we were leaving, I couldn’t help it and involuntarily asked “Oh, by the way—where are those tonsils now?” I needed to see them.

I could swear I heard Meg utter a very quiet, “Oh, yes!”

“Oh, they had to send them over to pathology,” she said. “That’s routine for any tissue that’s removed.”

“Oh, I see,” I replied, heading out the door to pull the car around for my daughter.

And then it came out. Again: I couldn’t help it.

“So,” I asked the nurse. “What’s that address for the pathology building again?”

Okay, fine. I didn’t ask her that.

But I sure as heck wanted to.

Off to town to buy Popsicles,
P-Dub

(Thank you all for your kind comments and emails—and for your well-wishes and prayers. I’ve passed them along to my wittle five-year-old daughter!)

622 Comments and 18 Replies

Michelle F On Wednesday, December 7 at 6:29 pm

Great post! I’m glad everything went well. Praying for a speedy recovery. Hopefully you got your Starbucks on the way home?

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momof8 On Wednesday, December 7 at 6:35 pm

Tell your daughter I’ll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. I had mine out 48 years ago–and STILL remember it well. Hopefully things have improved since then! And squirting yellow gunk–awesome!

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Sandy C. On Wednesday, December 7 at 6:38 pm

My 21-year-old daughter had her wisdom teeth surgically removed last summer. She wanted to be given a general anesthetic and after they gave her the sedative and the anesthetic she remembered to ask if she could keep the teeth. They told her no, sorry, they were required by law to throw them away. When she was awakened following the procedure, the teeth were still very much on her mind. She had her mouth stuffed with guaze and was still heavily sedated when we started our drive home. She said many funny things but one of the funniest was about her teeth. “They cast them aside, without so much as a glance.” Yeah, she’s a journalism/English/communications major. I tried hard not to laugh at everything she said but it was pretty hilarious.

Glad your daughter’s tonsillectomy went well and hope she recovers quickly.

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Raelene On Wednesday, December 7 at 6:46 pm

My 3 yr old has his tonsils out right around his birthday (cruel, I know, but he had sleep apnea). They say that about 4-7 days in they start to feel bad again, which was true in his case. He sleeps a lot better now, though, so it was worth it.

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Tiffany On Wednesday, December 7 at 6:53 pm

I feel so bad laughing at your daughters expense. Poor girl! I’m laughing at your spin on her procedure and your thing for “purulent drainage”. lol I am on my 15th year in an ER and let me tell you… I will do ANYTHING to avoid pus and the entire staff knows it. I once almost passed out during a procedure that I thought I was going to “assist” the physician in. Little did I know at the time that a PA had brought me in to see something she thought was cool. She got into boat loads of trouble by the doc after I darn near hit the floor. LOL I left the room in a cold sweat and went straight out the exit. lol How brave am I?! Thanks for the memory and the laugh!

i got my tonsils out when i was 17. if i recall correctly, it was only about 1 week after surgery i was eating pretty much anything i wanted. it was quite funny though. i was given liquid antibiotics (banana flavour) and liquid pain killer (strawberry). the odd thing about that was that it took nearly 6 months until i could eat a real banana because it hurt my throat to swallow it. the horrid thing is i hate strawberries.

i hope your eldest has a quick and uneventful recovery. i’m sure she’ll feel much better with the tonsils gone considering how badly they were infected.

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Cinda On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00 pm

Best wishes to your daughter for a speedy recovery!

I had my tonsils out when I was 22, my college graduation “present”. I had a rough go of it. But I felt so much better afterwards. I think I had a case of tonsillitis every month my senior year of college.

You sure know how to keep things “light”. I wish I had you around when I had mine out!

Enjoy every minute with your kiddos…I’m suffering through my first year as an empty nester…Time flies! When did they all grow up and decide they can get along without ME? Can’t wait until winter break when all 3 daughters are home!

Merry Christmas to you and your family! : )

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Wanda Fernandez On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:05 pm

Gives me so much comfort that I am not the only mom who obsesses over pus and pimples and other popping squeeze worthy ailments.

410

Elie Grider On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:06 pm

Really glad she is OK.

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Stephanie M. On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:14 pm

I’m glad I’m not the only woman to watch those videos. My whole family thinks I’m NUTS!

Tonya J On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:19 pm

Our son was 7 (he is now 17) when he had his tonsils removed. The doctor let us take “them” home. After our son recovered, he insisted on burying his tonsils in the back yard. Figured he was the guy to suffer having them ripped out, so why not. Still have no idea why the kid wanted to bury his tonsils.

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Theresa in Alberta On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:19 pm

What!?!?! You didnot hand over your car keys and a $20 bill to Meg and send her in search of a Starbucks?? SHOCKING
Glad to hear number one daughter came thru her surgery. I was thinking about her yesterday and praying.

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pkw On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:31 pm

I love watching the ER and medical mystery shows. My husband and two of my sons don’t understand why. My third son is in med school.

416

MaryE On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:44 pm

So happy the procedure went fine. A prayer tonite for your sweet daughter’s continued recovery.

417

Beth Hammergren On Wednesday, December 7 at 7:56 pm

I had my tonsils taken out 1 1/2 years ago-at the age of 50. Wow-it is painful. Mine were described as cheese curds by my friends who did the surgery in the OR. I wish I would have done it years earlier. My upper respiratory infections have become less frequent as a result. Hope your daughter does well.

So glad you’re baby is okay and thank you for the fine details of everything! I had my tonsils out at 25 and it was HORRID and, if you like, I can email you the details to discuss with Hyacinth, Meg, and your baby. I haven’t shared any of those details with Hunter, my baby, even though he’s a tonsillectomy candidate. Men can’t handle these details – you’re right. Keep us updated and I’ll pray for quick healing and very manageable pain – for your baby, too!

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Brenda Harrell On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:03 pm

So glad everything went well. Thanks for sharing. Laughter is so good.
Praying for a speedy recovery.

Gross Story to share: I had a cute baby boy almost five months ago, and let’s face it, most of the birthing process is pretty gross. However, as the doctor was stitching me up, and removing my placenta…she pauses and calls in the resident doctors and nurses to look at it. Apparently it was a pretty awesome placenta…very vascular, with thick veins all over it. When I tell this story, I compare it to the veins in old men’s hands…anyway…she was basically showing it off, saying how she has never seen one quite like mine. I wish I would have taken a picture.

but, so glad your daughter came out of surgery well! how sweet that her best friend got to come with. love that bond!!!

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Wicked Creations On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:16 pm

I was crying with you!! I know how it feels when your little one is in the hospital!! I felt helpless and crying over her…Just reading made me feel for you!! And wanting to rush out for Starbucks!! Did you hit it on the way home?? LOL, glad they took those bad puppies out!! Yuck.. and she will never get strep throat again, AMEN! Glad she is on the mend-it was funny how you put real life in her concerns, fears, etc…and glad she had support with her!! That’s what family is all about! This will be a very good Christmas for you all!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Diane On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:32 pm

So glad the surgery went well and she got those gunky things out!! Glad she’ll be feeling better soon….sorry you had to wait on the Starbucks!

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Cindy Jaeger On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:42 pm

So very happy, relieved and grateful that all went well for you and your daughter. Very happy. Very relieved. Very grateful.

426

cheryl On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:45 pm

Back in the fifties pretty much all the kids had their tonsils out because of one reason or another. I looked forward to the promised ice cream but it turns out my throat was so sore I refused that precious ice cream. They gave kids ether for anesthesia and I remember dreaming of big orange ballons in a row going by. I woke up in a ward of kids in beds in a row and stayed overnight before going home. For a five year old it was scary. Glad your daughter was in and out, and the nasty tonsils are gone.

427

Teagan On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:47 pm

Sounds like she did great! I wish her a speedy recovery ^_^ I had to get mine removed when I was a wee little lass in grade 2. It sure was scary at that age, but they sent me home the same day — so I guess I did alright!

Did you go to starbucks after? If not, I suggest making a special visit Afterall, frappuccinos are an excellent after-surgery drink, right? right?

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AmyinBC On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:47 pm

Poor little Bunny… Hope she is feeling better than new very soon.

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sherry hall On Wednesday, December 7 at 8:54 pm

Oh! tell her as a parent whose child had his tonsils out,and a grandmother of a 4 month old,born with 3 holes in her heart and had a complete by pass and had to leave a hole unpatched due to time..she wont know the stress you had because you couldnt have it for her. may she recover quickly and and find out soon it was so worth it. give her many hugs for me. it is heart breaking to watch a child old enough to have such rational fears and cant comfort them..like you are sending them off to death..

I’m glad it went well and I hope she feels better soon. Also, I’m sure you’re already aware, but there is a YouTube clip entitled “world’s biggest pimple” or similar. It’s incredible. Just thought I’d spread the joy

Glad that’s done, and praying she recovers just fine, and feels tons better! LOL about the Starbucks and the gross stuff.

432

Kelly On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:08 pm

I know what you mean – my daughter got her nose broken playing basketball at age 18 and had to have surgery. She looked so small when they rolled her out of recovery. And…I had my gross, ick-filled tonsils removed at the ripe old age of 23. I thought I was going to die. Good job getting them out of there while she’s young and will rebound quickly – I have never had strep throat again (I’m 49 now). And maybe she and Meg will come and hold my hand when I have my knee operated on (coming up soon) because the older I get and the more I learn (I’m an MRI tech) the more scared I am of being “put to sleep”. Get well soon, baby girl!

433

cecelia On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:11 pm

Wow, that is a goopy tonsil story. Gross Sending prayers the recovery zips along too. My goodness, she will feel so much better, gee, she might grow another three inches.

434

SharonT On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:14 pm

I’m so glad to hear that your baby girl is on the mend. You even make surgery funny! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

435

tracyo On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:15 pm

So glad everything went well and I hope she heals quickly! Thanks for keeping us posted Ree!

436

Bobbie P. On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:17 pm

Tell your daughter that she did great Ree! You too by the way. I cried like a baby after they took my husband off to sugery. My baby has to have surgery on both of his eyes this spring – yikes! I am already tearing up!!

437

Nikki On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:18 pm

Sending prayers her way! Hope she’s chowing on her mama’s home cooking in no time!

I’m so glad your oldest “baby” is okay. My son had the same surgery when he was 9, the best tips I can give you are. Tell her to take the pain meds, she will need them. We made smoothies in all flavors for him. They went down well and we could do lots of flavors. but no sipping through a straw, thats bad.
Hugs to you also and hope you all get through this quickly

443

Kristen On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:40 pm

Hope your daughter is recovering well!! My 4 year old had his tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday also. Since he’s a 4 year old boy, he’s already up and playing Legos and dressing up like Captain America, and I’m the one that’s totally exhausted from the whole thing. Wishing both our kids a speedy recovery!!

sherry hall On Thursday, December 8 at 1:43 pm

I ‘m so glad he mended fast , my son was 6 and woke up screaming ,literaly for 5 hrs. straight. Drs. said he went under scared and that was a reaction..I and the nurses thought we would lose our minds since nothing would get him to stop..but the minute he did he ask for his favorite food, tater tots.. lol, the dr. said sure in 24 hours, because all that screaming cleared out the funk and blood and was actually a faster healing process..whom would have thought ! needless to say he did have his tater tots and had no pain with whatever he ate..Kids are amazing ! Thank God..

444

Paige from Ohio On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:50 pm

That sounds pretty GROSS Ree!!!! I sure hope she feels better soon. She’s definitely in good hands with her Momma and of course Meg.
Feel better Alex!!

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carol On Wednesday, December 7 at 9:53 pm

I do love me some awesome cool crud that our bodies manufacture…you are soooo normal! Get your girl better!

We sent my sister a sympathy card when she had her tonsils removed. Her doctor said hers made medical history with him; he’d never seen anything like hers. She had nasty white gunky stuff hanging off them and they were, well, monstrous.

Get well soon, m’dear! And welcome to the Mysterious and Marvelous Medical Maladies and Magnificently Odd Medical Histories Club. I’m right there with you. (Although, I still have my tonsils, and every time I have sinus issues, the PA/Dr./NP always asks if I’ve ever been told my tonsils are bigger than normal. Nooooo, never.)

448

Melissa On Wednesday, December 7 at 10:18 pm

Hopefully she’ll feel better soon! I’m not a fan of needles either… and IV’s are in the category of “necessary evil”!

Loved your story, my son was in the 5th grade when he had his tonsils out. We were in the recovery room, I am leaning over him doing my best comforting when he breathed on me. His breathe was so bad I thought I was going to pass out, put my head on his bed and said this is bad, he has just come out of surgery and the mother is going to pass out and lay on the floor. But we did make it thru the day and he celebrated his 50th birthday in July. All is well.

450

DaCook On Wednesday, December 7 at 10:39 pm

Glad she got those out and it went with no problems. With that type of infection, she probably had much less of her normal vitality. Pray she gets better very soon and is able to enjoy her Christmas meal.

Load up on popsicles, pudding, jello & creamy soups.

I am one of those who have no tonsils too but, mine were not surgically removed. Strep throat and a mom who only believed in salt water w/vinegar for sore throats and no doctors, let mine literally come out in chunks. She is blessed to have a caring family and will not have to face years of choking from scar tissue.

This was a delightful story, even with the talk of “nasty yellow gunk” and all. Your daughter is such a good sport! Best wishes!!! (So how are you going to keep up with her when she’s feeling so much better, Ree?)

452

Captain Obvious On Wednesday, December 7 at 10:48 pm

It’d be great if (when your daughter is feeling better) we could get a quick recap of the surgery from her perspective….I had a sebacious (sp?)cyst filled with staph fluid from a delivery room telephone removed from my ear about 3 years ago…my account and my husbands account were totally different….not sure in what way (ie good v bad) but different. Gross yellow gunk…I’m all about the gory details!

Prayers for a speedy recovery…

453

Nancy On Wednesday, December 7 at 10:48 pm

You are a fabulous mother for taking your baby in for this surgery now. I grew up in the 70’s when doctors stopped routinely taking tonsils out even when the adenoids were removed. I ended up getting them out just a few years ago when I was 37 years old. It. Was. Awful. However, I don’t regret it one bit. I’m just so glad tonsils don’t grow back! I would hate to do it again but so glad I did it the once. Speedy recovery to your daughter!

454

Cindy On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:12 pm

I had my tonsils out as an adult. NOT FUN!! I finally resorted to just spitting in the sink after a few days because swallowing was just too dang painful!! I had a reaction to the anesthesia and had vomited several times after the surgery so I’m sure that made matters worse in the raw throat department. And my dad ended up in ghe hospital so I couldn’t stay home and baby myself. Not a good experience. As for picking up stuff from pathology, I did go pick up my gallstones after I had my gallbladder out. I had one as large as a small egg and then 138 little ones. The surgeon told my daughter after surgery to tell me to go get them when I felt better because he wanted me to understand why I was in so much pain afterwards since he pulled the egg-sized one out through what started as a little hole that he had to enlarge to get it out. He didn’t know I had the big one until he got in there or he went have attempted a laporascopic surgery. The little stones were actually sorta pretty! Green and shiny and sorta square. I toyed with making a necklace but everyone thought that would be gross. You and your daughter and Meg and Hyacinth would’ve understood! I hope your daughter feels better soooon and doesn’t have to spit in the sink! My doctor actually told me to eat potato chips to heal faster! Uh, no thanks!

455

Gross Stuff is Awesome. On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:14 pm

Get well soon! My brother had the same issue, his were nasty yellow-gunk filled sacs of doom too. Felt 100% better after being sick on and off for two years with throat-related maladies.

I work in organ donation, I’ve seen some pretty gross stuff, I feel immune to most gross things these days.

(p.s. oldest daugher looks exactly like my college roommate. She is 5’11” and I’m 6’2″ – random pairing – we towered over EVERYONE.)

456

cici On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:20 pm

Poor babies, both of you!!
Glad the Popsicles were readily available, and sure hope you got you Starbucks!!!

457

Cathy On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:22 pm

I hope that your daughter continues to recover quickly. BTW, I would’ve wanted to see those tonsils too! Take care.

458

marlene On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:32 pm

So glad all is well, now for a Merry Christmas!

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Marie M.C. On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:32 pm

I could not make it through my morning without COFFEE. NonononoNO. Never, no how, no way. How did you manage? Don’t they have a coffee pot somewhere in that hospital? I’m furious on your behalf. So glad your sweetie-pie is home and will be better soon. One of the commenters said she got to keep her tonsils — for show and tell? Just to scare the dickens out of her and everyone. I had surgery once, serious, open my belly kind of surgery and I woke UP. I couldn’t feel any pain, thank God — just stunned that I could hear what the eminent doctors were discussing. They weren’t talking about me (what!!!! huh ???) and my amazing, interesting condition. They were talking about GOLF! Jeez. Then I guess the anesthesiologist noticed and click, off I went back into the bliss of being unconscious again. (It was only for a very brief time. A minute? Less?) Whew.

460

D'Ann On Wednesday, December 7 at 11:32 pm

Praying for a speedy recovery!!

That’s too funny about being fascinated by gross things like cysts. Thanks for sharing. We all have our weirdness. Glad to know I’m not alone – haha

Glad to hear that everything went well. If she likes the purple Popsicles she can have all of the purple ones in my freezer…

463

alicia h. On Thursday, December 8 at 12:02 am

Ree, yes this is true. As a veteran nurse of 20+ years now it is standard procedure or ALL tissue removed from the body be sent to pathology for examination and cross cutting and checking for any malignancies. I Hate to say this but ALL tissue including pregnancies that do no reach past 24 weeks…… and so does the “after birth” sometimes…eww, I know!

Wow. I did not think I could simultaneously snort with laughter and be thoroughly grossed out at the same time! I was borderline headed into in giggle fit, practically.

Hope your baby girl heals quickly!

465

Wendy On Thursday, December 8 at 12:33 am

I had to chuckle reading this story because I’m a nurse. I’m so glad your daughters IV went well and hope you get to see those colorful tonsils. wishing your daughter a speedy recovery and thank u for posting the petite vanilla scones recipe. Those delicious morsels and a latte help my day at work go much smoother! I can’t wait to make them by bulk!

466

Smileyk On Thursday, December 8 at 2:38 am

Wow she came out the same day? In the UK they keep them in for at least a day and they don’t go home until they’ve eaten something!

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Debbie On Thursday, December 8 at 2:48 am

Because of your brave admission, I can confess my problem with watching YouTube videos of various cysts and boil drainage.

I had my tonsils out at 19. I now have things called tonsil stones that have to be removed every few months. I, too, am an amateur doc and I use a straw to remove it myself. They gather because there is a deep hole where the tonsil used to be. So food particles collect and then produce bacteria. They smell horrific. They are flesh color which confused me. My doc told me it is because the enzymes in my saliva bleach the color out.

TMI, I know, but I feel free!

Hope your baby feels better quick!!

468

Alison On Thursday, December 8 at 4:40 am

You should have asked! I got my tonsils out the day after Christmas in second grade and afterwards they brought them to my room in a jar so I could see them. Awesome!

Glad everything went well. You won’t be loosing your daughter in four years. .. Remember this:

A son is a son, until he takes a wife.
A daughter is a daughter the rest of her life.

Enjoy some Popsicles with her

470

Cindy McDannold On Thursday, December 8 at 6:51 am

In many of the hospitals in Illinois they take pictures of any thing that is removed during surgery. When my little 2 year old nephew had his tonsils and adenoids out, they actually took a photo of the adenoids (the largest the Dr. had ever seen, much less in a 2 yr old) using the adenoids as a nose on a happy face…….YUCK, GROSS, DISGUSTING.

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Georgi On Thursday, December 8 at 6:56 am

I love this tale so much that I just might read it to the family around the Christmas tree this year while enjoying some of your delicious, gooey cinnamon rolls.

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Kristin On Thursday, December 8 at 7:03 am

These are the things I love best to read from you. Classic. I’m so glad the surgery went well, & hope that her recovery is as well. Felt for you when you couldn’t get to Starbucks. Nearly spit my own coffee all over the screen when we got to the tonsil description. My mom (a nurse) would’ve been right there with you. I, of course, am completely normal and am not currently making my husband look daily at my green toe & foot where I’m pretty sure I broke a tarsal or metatarsal or 2 when I kicked the vacuum cleaner, or my other foot where I have a huge bruise caused by a stealth attack from a chunk of pie dough I’ve got stashed in my basement freezer.

My 5-yr old just had her tonsils and adenoids removed as well as ear tubes put in last week. She did great and had a pretty good recovery so far. The worst part for me was when she refused her pain meds (because they were nasty) when I knew she needed them. I tried everything short of holding her down and forcing them in her mouth. Sometimes she would end up taking them and other times she toughed it out.

Praying your daughter has a fast and easy recovery!

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Rachel C On Thursday, December 8 at 7:12 am

It’s nice that you got to be with her. When my daughter got her tonsils out at 5 yrs old, they wouldn’t even let us walk back to the surgery area with her! So scary, but she did fine.
I did relax on the whole drinking fluids thing a few days after surgery when I thought she was better – that was a mistake. Definitely make sure your daughter stays hydrated!

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dana On Thursday, December 8 at 7:23 am

so glad to hear the procedure went smoothly!!! i send wishes for a speedy recovery … and i hope you got to starbucks before you went home! Best to all!

Kerry On Thursday, December 8 at 8:06 am

Re, Were we seperated at birth? For some unknown reason I got to watching youtube videos of cysts and boil about 2 weeks ago. Oh man it makes my skin crawl just thinking about those videos! Our daughter E is 16 and a junior in High School here in Dallas. She is in Clinical Rotations and has a passion to become a RN. I pulled up the boil videos and told E that if she could watch these without any reservations she was going to make a terrific nurse!!

Thanks for your inspiration to a new blogger like me who knows NOTHING at all about a computer. Hope your little BIG family is having a wonderful Christmas Season!

Miss Ree – You do know that if you had posted an SOS with the name of the Surgery Center you would have had Starbucks for you and to share with all of the staff at the Center. If you are EVER in OKC and that happens to you again. Send me an e-mail. I will take care of it. Glad your daughter is doing well. Did you ask them if they had a video of the surgery? You might have been able to get your gross fix that way.

Glad everything went well. When our babies hurt – we hurt. That’s the thread that that connects the hearts of all moms.

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Munchiedog On Thursday, December 8 at 8:31 am

Hi,

I missed out on the gene for the “yellow gunk” obsession! Very entertaining post and thank you for the belly laughs.

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Janice On Thursday, December 8 at 8:33 am

My daughter, who is 17, just had her tonsils removed and she had exactly the same worries as you daughter.

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Deb On Thursday, December 8 at 8:34 am

Love and best wishes to Alex.

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Amelia On Thursday, December 8 at 8:40 am

I feel for her! I got my tonsils out when I was 18 and it was two weeks of discomfort, but the hospital gave me an ice collar which worked wonders! Txting does become your only way to communicate but enjoy the silence because once I was recovered, I felt even better than before! (had the same nastiness growing in mine as well). Hoping for a speedy recovery!

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Allibama Girl On Thursday, December 8 at 8:52 am

Our doctor gave us a polaroid of our son’s tonsils. I was obsessed with it and I still have the polaroid somewhere….that was 8 years ago!! The left tonsil gave him an 80% blockage in his airway and looked like a small brain. It was crazy!! You are hysterical Ree!!

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Meghan O On Thursday, December 8 at 9:00 am

I had my tonsils taken out when I was 16. Let me just say she is going to feel so much better when she’s all healed! I’m rarely sick and don’t get many bad colds like I use to (at least knock on wood). It’s been great!

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Carol Alaniz On Thursday, December 8 at 9:08 am

Glad to hear the surgery went well.

I’m extremely I.V. phobic (due to having an I.V. needle stuck in my arm 16 times when I had my last C-section 26 years ago. The nurses (10 of them crowded in my room) couldn’t find a good vein. (Finally, a nurse from the ER came, and found a vein in 2 seconds flat).

Because of the above, I have asked for, and received, a lidocaine mixture applied to my skin right before I. V. needle placement for three outpatient surgeries I’ve had within the last two years. Never felt a thing. It may seem like a small thing, but it was very much appreciated and took a lot of stress off me.

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eva On Thursday, December 8 at 9:08 am

That is so disgusting; now I will have to try and erase that image out of my mind for the rest of the day.

Glad it went smoothly and I hope she recovers quickly. Much better to have it done at 14 than at 23 like I did. Let’s just say I’m glad tonsils don’t grow back.

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Cheryl On Thursday, December 8 at 9:24 am

Had mine out when I was almost 16 – it was dreadful! Be prepared for the worst breath EVER! Plus, I haven’t been able to sing since. Oh yeah, and they can grow back – trust me, I know this. But you can bet I will NEVER have another tonsillectomy!

Two of our four sons have had their tonsils out. The same day, one right after the other, when they were both in high school.

Getting ready for the occasion, I made up a ‘plan’ and stuck to it with gusto!

They missed the last couple of days of school, before Christmas vacation was officially suppose to start. Before surgery day, I had quizzed them about their favorite movies, as well as their favorite soft foods. I had then hit the video rental store and re-emerged with a bag of 15 rented movies – all of them rented for a week. My next stop had been the grocery store. The “boys” had taken full advantage of my caring nature and requested foods that I usually won’t spend the money on. Things such as pudding cups, and Spaghetti-O’s, special ‘juices’, etc..

Our eldest son was off at a out of state college at the time. Our second son was living to home, while attending a local college. Both him and my husband had been informed that for the week following the surgery, they would be left to their own devices to feed themselves. There was food in the house – besides the soft foods, but I would not be preparing it for them. Nor would I be doing their laundry, etc.. I was diving head first in to the role of nurse mommy.

At the time, we had three couches in our living room. Both of the patients had gotten to pre-pick which couch was to be theirs, and set it up with their bed pillows, blankets, CD players and head phones, etc. I then took over the third couch.

Once we arrived home after their surgery (Thankfully, my husband took the day off and was with us through the whole thing), the “boys” were helped to their respective couches, and after their initial grogginess eased up, my ‘planned schedule’ kicked in. As a team, we’d eat something, give them their med’s and watch a movie. By the end of the movie, their med’s had kicked in and they’d sleep for a while again. We followed this routine round the clock for four days time. Then the spacing of things got further apart.

Due to their personality’s, one son was healing / recovering faster than the other. However, I had a mighty healing tool at hand. “You need to drink and eat, so that the area heals, other wise you won’t be able to eat at either of the family Christmas dinners.” o;-p

Thankfully, Christmas didn’t fall till the end of their first week of vacation that year. Thus, it HAD given them time to heal a lot. In-fact, by Christmas Eve, I had returned to my wonderful bed. They were still camping out in the living room, by choice. And often still watching movies in the middle of the night. But they were on vacation, so as long as they kept the volume down, I let it go. And I still played the nurse mommy role of cleaning up after them (their food raids, etc. ;-p). That is, till New Year’s Day. Then their little party was over.

Occasionally this time together still gets brought up – by them. And while they do harass me about pushing the fluids and med’s, it’s done with love.

I hope that your BEAUTIFUL little darling has a quick recovery too! Remember, chocolate can be a ‘soft food’. ;-p

[I have a recipe for home made chocolate pudding, which you can eat warm or cooled, on my blog. {http://thebzhousethatlovebuilt.blogspot.com/2011/01/for-cold-winters-night.html} just thought of this, and how good it sounds… might need to make my self some o;-p]

Thanks for sharing your experience – it brought to mind a lot of my own warm memory smiles. ;-D

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Kayla On Thursday, December 8 at 9:44 am

Thinking of you both and wishing her a speedy recovery,

My 15 yr. old daughter got hers out last year and my 6 yr. old son and 10 yr. old daughter are scheduled for January – we don’t have great luck with tonsils in our family. Loved this post – you always have a way of saying things that makes me laugh out loud – hope you have a great day!

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tracey On Thursday, December 8 at 9:50 am

Best wishes to your daughter during her recovery. I am sure that she will be feeling better soon. IIcy pops will do wonders.

What is it with the fascination with disgusting stuff? I had surgery this summer and got a pretty nasty infection that I am still recovering from. My doctor was in my room one day, checking my wound and found that he had to cut away some questionable ‘material’ (fat to you and me) and I wanted so badly to take a picture of it with my cell phone. He wouldn’t let me and wanted to know why in the world I would want to do something like that.

i had my tonsils out when i was 10 (also my adenoids out, and also tubes in my ears)…when i was recovering, my mom made me floats out of rainbow sherbert and 7-up. they were AWESOME! hope everyone feels better!

Gwen S On Thursday, December 8 at 10:26 am

Praying for a flawless & speedy recovery – just in time for Christmas!

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Brooke On Thursday, December 8 at 10:35 am

I had a tonsillectomy when I was 20. Worst surgery ever. And I have had reconstructive knee surgery and 2 c-sections. I thought I was going to die. I had tonsils that were crystallizing…they had holes in them and were disgusting. Hers sounded awful! So glad they are out and hope she is feeling better now